Chandrababu Naidu Bats For Balanced Approach Amid Language Row, Says 'Hindi Useful For Communication In Delhi'

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu adopted a conciliatory stance today amid the ongoing language debate, stressing that both Hindi and English have their significance and should be learnt.

"One should give importance to the mother tongue, but at the same time, one needs to learn Hindi as it is useful for communication in Delhi. Other languages we learn for livelihood... Hindi is the national language... English is the international language (sic)," he stated, highlighting that Indians are now travelling abroad frequently for work.

However, India does not have a national language; both Hindi and English hold official language status.

"For livelihood, we will learn any number of languages. We won't forget our mother tongue. Language is only for communication. It is best to learn as many languages as possible, let us remember," Naidu remarked.

"Some people seem to think English is equivalent to knowledge. Language is only for communication. It does not bring knowledge. Knowledge is learnt best when studied in the mother tongue... The mother tongue is the easiest to learn. That is the experience anywhere in the world," he added.

The DMK government's opposition to the Centre's three-language policy and the issue of delimitation have had a ripple effect across southern states.

In an election year, the DMK has framed these policies as attempts to impose northern dominance through language, culture, and politics. This perspective has resonated across southern states, transcending party lines.

A leader from Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which is allied with the BJP, has even proposed cash rewards and livestock as incentives for having more children.

The Centre has been countering these allegations on both fronts. It has clarified that Hindi is merely one of the 22 languages included in the National Education Policy and is not compulsory within the three-language framework.

Additionally, it has intensified efforts, insisting that Opposition-led states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal implement the three-language policy without further delay.